Birth, marriage and death certificates, history books with maps, census records, naturalization forms, yellowed newspaper clippings, old family photographs, probate files, obituaries…to a genealogist it's all about the relatives.

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What I Learned at Gail Borden Library

I wrote about my visit to Gail Borden Library here. We weren’t in the library for very long, but then it didn’t take very long to find two invaluable items to add to my family history.

The Elgin Newspaper and Vital Record’s Index pointed me toward an obituary for William John McBane. William was married to my 2nd great-grandparent’s daughter Alma E. Mueller. His obituary provided some interesting clues:

From page 13 of the Thursday January 6, 1938 issue of the Elgin Daily Courier-News; “William J. McBane. Funeral services for William J. McBane, retired engineer on the Bangor & Aroostock line in Maine and resident of Carpentersville since last fall who died Wednesday, will be held tomorrow at 2 in the home on Washington street. The Rev. C. E. Stebbins, pastor of the Congregational church, will officiate, and Century lodge will conduct the I.O.O.F. lodge ritual. Burial will be in Acacia cemetery, Chicago. Friends may call this evening at the home.”

I had already known William was a railroad engineer, but the specific railway line was new information. It makes me wonder anew how William and Alma met. William’s obituary states he had been a Carpentersville resident “since last fall”.

Oddly Alma’s obituary doesn’t mention Carpentersville:

From page 16 of the Saturday June 10, 1967 issue of the Elgin Daily Courier-News; “Mrs. Alma McBane Elgin Mrs. Alma E. McBane, 84, of 324 E. Chicago St. died early today following a long illness.

Born Sept. 14, 1882, in Chicago, she was the daughter of Jacob and Elsie [Elise] Mueller, and had lived in Elgin for 30 years. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband and a brother, Alfred.

Funeral services will be at 11 Monday from Walt, Ross, Allanson Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Clifton Kittelson officiating. Burial will be in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago. Friends may call after 2 Sunday at the chapel.”

I scanned the entire pages on which these obituaries appeared. When it was possible to do so, I added the information therein to Find A Grave.

Both obituaries above appeared on microfilm in the extensive collection at the Gail Borden Library.